Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! I do not draw nearly as good as Masashi Kishimoto! (Although I wish I did...)

Warning:

Violence

Language

Sexual Content

Possible Spoilers

Yaoi

Key:

"talking"

thinking/talking to kyuubi

kyuubi talking in his mind

'writing'

Chapter 4 - "the Gates" - Start.

The night was slowly starting to draw to a close as the sun's rays began to spread across the horizon, threatening all of daybreak. In the beat up apartment on the shady part of town, our favorite blond groaned from under his thin sheets, pulling them down past his scarred cheeks, showing his handsome face and even-more-messy-than-usual-hair. His eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing their clear, cerulean depths.

He turned over toward the window, staring out of the small tear in the corner of the small tarp covering the windows gaping hole. He could have sworn he was forgetting something. Something important. He paused, seemingly at a loss. There was silence.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

4.

5.

6.

7, 8, 9.

10 seconds passed by until...

"I'M LATE!!" he screeched, jumping out of bed. He stood and ran over the needed supplies in his head. Well, let's see... I prepared my pack last night... uh... I need... a shower! Yes, a shower! But, it's already too late..! Alright, getting dressed. He looked down at his body, seeing that he still had on yesterday's garment's. Okay then... I guess I could make do with these. But, I haven't got anything to change into...

He shrugged off his thoughts, deciding he could buy some clothes at a small store on the way to the main gates and take a bath in a nearby river when they left for the mission. He turned to the bedside table and yanked his hitai-te off of it, hastily tying it around his forehead. He pulled on his mission-pack and paused, looking to the floor next to his bed. Lying on the floor was the scratched hitai-te, evidently dropped during his light slumber.

He picked it up and stared at it for a moment, deep in thought about it's previous owner. After wrapping up his thoughts, he shoved it into the breast pocket of his vest; over his heart. He turned to the entrance, pulled on his ninja shoes, opened the door, and stepped out.

I stepped out and was turning in place when I felt my foot bump something. Wha..? I looked down and saw a small wooden basket with dark materials inside. There was a piece of white, folded parchment tied to the handle of the basket with a fancily scrawled 'Naruto.'

I kneeled next to the basket and yanked off the paper, opening it to read it's contents. It read:

'Dear Naruto,

I was getting my supplies ready for our mission when I realized that I wasn't going to return your clothes until after the mission due to the lack of time to wash them. I went through my drawers and decided that I would go ahead and give you the other clothes I had bought for you so that you would have something to wear during the mission. Plus, knowing you, you would have just re-worn the clothes I gave you yesterday.'

I stopped momentarily. Hey! I resent that! I was going to buy some more clothes for the mission!! I stopped my inner-whining and continued.

'You had better take them with you and wear them, got it?

Oh, and... I know Kakashi has been wearing off on you but... you had better get to the gate on time-or I'll kick your ass.'

I grimaced. Just a little too late for that.

'Meet you at the main gates!

Love,

Sakura.'

I sighed and pulled my pack off of my shoulder, shoving the clothing inside the large pocket, not even bothering to look at the other clothes. I knew that there wasn't any orange, I would have automatically spotted it. Damn, why can't she understand that there has to be at least a little bit of orange?

I looked up to the window at the far end of the hall. The sun had started getting brighter. Wait... brighter?

My eyes widened

SHIT! I'M LATE!!

By the looks of the brightness of the sun, I was probably about 15-30 minutes late-quite a noticeable amount of time.

I shrugged my pack back on, hastily opened my door, tossed the wooden basket into my apartment, slammed the door, and turned.

Well, I'd better get going, eh?

No shit, kit. Hey... I rhymed!

Shut up, Kyuubi! I don't want your opinion or... rhymage. If that's even a word...

Hey, just interjecting. I am after all the one who has to heal your bones every time that pink-haired witch sends you flying through the wall.

... Point taken. But, seriously. Shut up for a while.

Fine, fine.

I took off running to the end of the hall. I jumped down the stairs and ignored the woman with skimpy clothes who had miraculously found a way to keep her tongue entwined with another woman's, scowl and simultaneously glare at me as I flew by.

I threw open the door, and ran down the block, dodging other sketchy figures in the neighborhood. Hmm. Maybe it would be fun to tally the types of people I run by. I should make it a kind of game. I ran faster and faster, going further and further down the road.

There goes a prostitute.

A gangster.

Another prostitute.

A drug dealer.

An ex-shinobi.

Another prostitute.

Ex-shinobi.

I ran past a small group of 3. They had baggy clothes, shifty eyes, and hidden weapons.

3... rapists?

Another prostitute.

Prostitute.

Prostitute.

Prostit--

Jesus! How many prostitutes are there?! This is getting to be kinda... sad.

Heh. You should hire one. You need to get your mind off of things... relieve some stress.

Shut up, you ass! Like hell I'm gonna give my virginity to a damned prostitute so that I could 'get my mind off of things.' I'd rather lose it to someone I love, thank you.

Like that pink-haired woman?

NO! I love her as a sister! I've never liked her like that! You know that! That's just disgusting... EW! IT'S LIKE INCEST! I trailed off. Stupid furball...

Aw, come on! You know you want to think about all the kink--

And THIS is where I stop listening!

I ran down the street, getting closer and closer to the main gates of Konoha. Finally, when the gates came into view, I began to slow down and stopped a few feet away from... yes-a fuming Sakura.

"DAMMIT, Naruto! I told you to get here at sunrise... not 45 minutes after sunrise!" she yelled, relatively calmer than she usually would have been while yelling at me.

"Gomen, Sakura-chan." I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. "I slept in and kinda got sidetracked with some thoughts..."

She sighed. "Alright. But, I'm not the only one you need to apologize to." She pointed behind her at the group standing impatiently-some huffing with their arms crossed while others seemed unaffected.

The group consisted of Shikamaru, Lee, Neji, Ino, Sai, Hinata and Kiba, who was of course accompanied by his loyal dog, Akamaru. They had all grown older and more mature over the years.

Shikamaru was now age 19, his birthday having passed a few months ago. He still wore his black hair in a ponytail, hairs spiking deviously in multiple directions-still the same length. He wore the usual green vest with a black mesh undershirt underneath. He wore plain gray pants with small packs filled with kunai strapped around his thighs and was currently toting a small pack on his back for the mission.

Lee was still 18, his hair had grown just a touch longer-but he still had the horribly attention-stealing-fuzzy-eyebrows that practically shouted for a proper grooming. He wore his usual green-spandex-leotard-thing and a black vest hanging open-no doubt to show more of the horrid spandex underneath. He was currently carrying 3 packs-I glanced amongst the shinobi before me and quickly figured that he was carrying Kiba and Ino's packs as well as his own in what was no doubt a test of 'youthfulness.'

Neji had turned 20 recently and was the oldest of the group of ninjas. His hair had grown a couple of inches longer, still pulled back in a lazy ponytail. He was wearing a simple shirt with a gray vest zipped up halfway and black pants with a supply pack strapped around his thigh and a larger pack slung across his shoulder.

Ino was still 18, although many would admit she looked much older. She still wore her hair back in a high ponytail with her bangs nearly covering one eye, although her hair had grown longer and was about waist-length by now. She wore a ninja-outfit that was identical to Sakura's, except it was a deep purple. She had a thigh pack on each leg and a white vest hanging open over her outfit.

Sai's age was currently unknown, but if one were to guess, they would say he was about to turn 20. He wore the same thing he used to wear-a black half-shirt and black pants, except now he had the decency to at least wear a thin mesh underneath his shirt, forcing anyone who wanted to look at his abdominal muscles to look closer. He had a small black pack slung across his shoulder and an even smaller pack attached to one of his thighs.

Hinata was the youngest-age 17, turning 18 in a few months. Her purplish hair had grown quite long and was tied back by a hitai-te. She wore a white shirt, black vest, and black pants. She had two thigh packs and was wearing a grey pack for the mission on her back.

Kiba was age 18, turning 19 pretty soon. His hair was shaggy and a little bit past his shoulders. He was wearing a black shirt, dark green vest, dark gray pants, and a pack strapped around his thigh. Of course, Akamaru was standing loyally by his side, a good 3 feet tall-on his hind legs he would undoubtedly be taller than my own 6'1'' self.

"Sorry guys. So, I'm guessing we're all ready to go?" I asked, unsure of how to start us out on our mission.

Shikamaru stood straight from his position leaning on the large post of the main gate and said his favorite word. "Mendokuse."(1)

Everyone nodded, although it was kind of hard to tell whether they were answering positively to my question or agreeing with Shikamaru.

We all turned and were about to step out of the gate until we were stopped by a voice calling my name. "Naruto!! Wait!! Wait a second!"

I turned to see Kakashi jogging up to me, huffing in annoyance. He wore his usual outfit, dark blue long-sleeve shirt and pants with a green vest, and of course, his mask covering the bottom half of his face and hitai-te covering his left eye. He was holding a small package and had a small pack slung on his back.

"What the hell, Kakashi? What do you need?" I asked, confusion clear on my face.

His eyes crinkled into half moons-the only evidence of him smiling.

"Aw, don't treat your old sensei so badly. Don't you still love me?"

I frowned. "Cut the crap, Kakashi. What do you need?"

He frowned too. "Meanie. I convinced the Hokage to let me go with you guys on the mission."

I thought about it. Well, if he comes I will have a father-like figure with me... and he could probably teach me a few more jutsu...

I smiled my bright smile, an actual real smile-the first one in a long time. "Okay, Kakashi..."

I drifted off, my attention turning to the small parcel he held in his hands. He followed my vision and smiled when he realized I was looking at the package.

"Oh, this? Iruka told me to give it to you. He said he was planning on giving it to you for your birthday in a few weeks, but seeing as your mission is expected to be long, he decided to let me give it to you."

I smiled gleefully. "Cool!" I took the package from him. "I'll open it later." I pulled my pack off of my shoulder and stuffed the package inside as gracefully as possible and slung the pack back on. "Well, let's get going then, eh?" I smiled one of my fake smiles again.

Again, everyone nodded. We all stepped forward, silently starting our mission.

-Chapter End-

(1) - "mendokuse" - come on people! You know what this means! It's Shikamaru's famous, "troublesome"

XxXxXxXxX

Thanks for reading so far, please continue to read!

Review please!